JOSHUA JUDEA ZIPPERER

Update: In April 2017, Cold Case Unit Investigator Michael Ray was reviewing local missing and unidentified persons cases in the NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) repository when he noticed the disappearance of Joshua Zipperer coincided with the discovery of human remains discovered in the burned down debris of a vacant East Ridge restaurant building.

​Following his hunch, Investigator Ray obtained Zipperer's dental records and provided them to Dr. Heath Blockley, a Chattanooga dentist who does forensic odontology exams for the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's Office. Dr. Blockley compared Zipperer's dental records to the dental photographs taken during the autopsy of the fire victim and concluded they matched.

Last seen: December 24, 2013Age 25 when he disappeared

6'1", 130 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes

Joshua Zipperer was last seen on December 24, 2013. Zipperer had been staying at a homeless camp site near Camp Jordan. He normally kept in frequent contact with his mom, typically calling her several times each day.​Zipperer met with his mom at the Wendy's on Ringgold Road on Christmas Eve 2013, parting ways around 6:30pm. No one has heard from him since.

Zipperer uses a cane and is missing his right front tooth.

Original Investigating Agency: East Ridge Police Department

If you have information on this case, please use the form below or call the cold case hotline: 423-209-7470

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